Match of the Day thriving as grand old show reaches 50 not out

Barry Davies commentating for Match of the Day at Anfield in the 1970s

How can it be, in this era of wall-to-wall live events, that a packaged highlights programme still plays such a key role in our lives as sports fans?

Saturday night, just before bed. All the goals, all the key moments. Truly, Match of the Day, the Daddy of all TV sports programmes, does what it says on the tin. And still does it very well.

The reaction to this 50th anniversary has been telling. We seem to spend many of our days criticising the programme. Why do they spend so much time chatting? Why is the punditry not more enlightening? Why do they have the same teams up first? And yet, this week we’ve seen nothing but eulogies and warm praise.

Kenneth Wolstenholme commentating on a match between West Ham and Sheffield United in 1966 (Picture: BBC)

The truth is we criticise the programme because it’s so important to us. As with other venerable broadcasting institutions, like Radio Four and Question Time, we have our say so often because we care so much.

Match of the Day is truly the backdrop to the darker months of the year. If you’re in your 60s or 70s, you’ll remember Kenneth Wolstenholme and those early black and white shows. If you’re in your 40s or 50s, it’s Jimmy Hill. And later Des Lynam. And Barry Davies. And, for all of us, John Motson.

John Motson has been a regular voice on Match of the Day since the early 1970s (Picture: BBC)

It’s one of the great survivors, even withstanding the years when the BBC lost top flight football rights to ITV (lest we forget what happened to Grandstand and Sportsnight).

Not just surviving, but thriving. There’s Match of the Day 2. Match of the Day 2 Extra. Match of the Day 3. The brand is arguably stronger now than the days when 12 million and more used to tune in on a Saturday evening.

The final word must go to that theme tune – not the original tune it should be noted, but the theme since 1970 – that is surely more synonymous with football than any other piece of music. You’ll probably be singing it to yourself as you read this. All together now…

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